The Ondo State Government has described as heartwarming the inclusion of Akure Airport in the Federal Government status upgrade of four airports in the country.
Addressing Government House Reporters in Akure, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi said the approval of the Federal Executive Council to inject N6bn for the acquisition of Information, Landing Systems For Four Airports in which Akure Airport is a beneficiary gives credence to the untiring efforts of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN at showcasing the investible potentials of Ondo State and his strategic rapprochement with the Buhari-led administration.
Mr Olowolabi said since the inception of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Administration in Ondo State several steps have been taken to attract attention to the Akure Airport.
“Governor Akeredolu through patronage helped revived the moribound Lagos-Akure route and also activated Abuja-Akure route.
“It will interest you that both routes now operate daily flights to the state”, he said
The Commissioner stated that within the first one year in office of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the attention he paid to the Akure Airport brought about the collaboration between the State Government and the Federal Airport Authority which led to the building of a Temporary Terminal due to the encouraging traffic at the facility.
”The governor facilitated the coming of Air Peace Airlines to the state which fly Lagos-Akure route and also encouraged Overland Airways on Abuja- Akure route; both now operate daily to and fro the state capital.
”The friendly disposition of Arakunrin Akeredolu towards the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is no doubt yielding positive results for us in Ondo State” , the Commissioner said.
Mr. Olowolabi expressed optimism that the governor before the end of his first term in office will totally change the fortunes of the state.
“And may I say, several things will come our way very soon, I pray our eyes will see the movement of our Sunshine State to a vibrantly productive state, he assured.
The Federal Executive Council at its weekly meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo last week approved contracts totalling N6bn for four different airports in the country.
Briefing newsmen on details of the approval, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed that N2.588bn was approved for aeronautical information system that would give accurate information, including weather information, to pilots and other aviators.
He also said the council approved N1.188bn to upgrade the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Category III status.
The Minister added that the contract would include the provision of Instrument Landing System for aircraft operations in harsh weather conditions.
He stated that N1.175bn was approved to upgrade the Akure and Benin airports to Category II status.
The contracts have completion period of 20 weeks.
